Another example of early experiments, where stem cells are beginning to demonstrate some of their early promise:
In a three-stage procedure, the researchers used gene therapy to fix the faulty DNA in the cells they had taken from patients. Next, they used a technique called cell reprogramming to convert these cells into healthy stem cells, which are unique in being able to grow into any kind of tissue in the body.
In the final stage of the process, the researchers grew the stem cells in petri dishes into early stage bone marrow cells, which in principle could be injected into patients to treat their condition.
The problems of immune system rejection by using stem cells from another donor has been avoided, and the bottleneck remains a safe avenue of delivery before the therapeutic effects of this approach can be realised.